Words: Dray Morgan
Otherside is one of Ireland’s newest festivals. The weekend centres around fostering an environment for connection, collaboration and enjoyment. Escaping from normality and entering “The Otherside” is what the festival is built around.
Beginning on 7 July, Otherside is inbound. Being a festival with such variety, Otherside lets you carve out your festival experience. Some may want to relax in the saunas but some may want to take advantage of the artists and DJs on display over the weekend. With two late-night arenas, there’s no excuse not to get moving. So here’s our guide to the six acts that will keep you going all weekend:
Pretty Girl just touched down in Dublin for Forbidden Fruit and is returning once more for Otherside. One of the most exciting producers on the lineup, Pretty Girl has collaborated with Fred again.. and hosted a boiler room this year. Her ethereal dance music pairs with the Otherside forest setting perfectly, with a sound suited to fans of Barry Can’t Swim, DJ Seinfeld and outsider house.
If you want to be transported to 1980s mainland Europe, this is the one. Italo disco and synth-pop are this duo’s signature, leaving a distinctive mark on the evening. Retro energy with a cosmic sound and a stage presence that has cemented them as a staple of most Irish festivals.
Fatima Yamaha is one of the most interesting live electronic performers there is. His robotic sounding house music goes through many renditions as his sets are mainly created in real time. A pioneer of his genre and a signature sound of his own, he’s one of the most unique names over the weekend.
2023 seems to be Pagan’s year. This year, he has seen success with his newest single, ‘I Want Your Love’, as well as his collaboration with rapper Emby and producer Rory Sweeney on ‘Two Faces’. With an arsenal of variety in his locker, hits sets can move from techno to grime to funk.
Transitioning from mainland Europe to a more UK-centric sound. Ae86 are an Irish collective, utilising the sounds from across the channel. Their mixes are heavy on elements of garage, drum n bass and jungle. Coming off of hosting a Forbidden Fruit afterparty, the group are perfect for a festival-goer looking to feel the bass in their chest.
A DJ from Killarney and founder of the collective Touch of Techno, SHEE’s has been gaining weight. His sampling gives us elements of disco and delves into the retro with a sound that may be considered aligned with his Irish counterpart KETTAMA. Perfect summer night dance music.
Otherside takes place from 7-9 July at the Slane grounds.
To grab tickets to Otherside click here